Sprinklers For Kaloma Home For The Aged

Kaloma has played a special role across its surrounding communities for almost two decades. Kaloma is well known not just for the warm and quality care it delivers to its clients, but because it is the only aged care facility within a 100km radius. Kaloma provides at-home care for the older population, and live-in care facilities for frailer and older members of the community, within close distance of their families and within the rural surroundings they are familiar with. Without Kaloma, these individuals would be forced to move far away from their communities and be separated from their families.

However, like other aged care facilities in the country, Kaloma has been under pressure because of our ageing population, as the median age has risen due to increasing life expectancy. In two years, the waiting list has increased from 2 to 35 people, and as a not-for-profit facility, this has created a need for funding to extend the offering of beds in the facility and ensure the centre meets Occupational Health and Safety Standards.

Kaloma received a $5,000 grant as part of the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program in 2015, after receiving three separate nominations from cotton farmers Christine Dent, Rosemary Webster and Mary Ann Clark, and was able to put those funds toward the cost of a new fire sprinkler system.

CEO of Kaloma Home for the Aged, Penni Roberts, describes how the money will assist the centre as it expands to meet growing demand.

“We were so excited to hear of our success with this grant from Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow communities,” said Penni.

“Kaloma is about to extend our beds by another 30, meaning we’ll be an 80-bed aged care facility, and it’s a priority for us that residents and staff are as safe as possible. The installation of a fire sprinkler / suppression system (which costs $640,000) provides residents and staff with the safest fire safety system there is. Every dollar in aged care is carefully spent and most appreciated.”